Familial mediterranean fever CT scan

There are no CT scan findings associated with familial Mediterranean fever. However, a CT scan may be helpful in the diagnosis of complications of this disease, which include splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, focal peritonitis, and etc.

• There are no CT scan findings associated with familial Mediterranean fever. However, a CT scan may be helpful in the diagnosis of complications of this disease, which include:^[1]
  • Splenomegaly
  • Hepatomegaly
  • Lymphadenopathy
  • Focal peritonitis
  • Peritoneal cysts
  • Peritoneal fluid
• Other less common findings:
  • Cavernous malformation of the splenic vein
  • Terminal ileitis
  • Incidental ovarian cysts
  • Ovarian dermoid cyst
  • Segmental renal infarct
  • Bleeding from a ruptured renal cyst
• It is of particular attention that, FMF is associated with the acute abdominal attacks which must be differentiated from other pathologies requiring surgeries.^[2]
• One study comparing CT scan findings of patients with FMF during an acute attack suggested the following findings on CT imaging as the signs of peritoneal irritation due to FMF attacks:
  • Mesenteric pathologies such as:
    • Edematous and hyperemic peritoneal folds and greater omentum with vascular markings
    • Engorged mesenteric vessels ± thickened mesenteric folds
    • Enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes
    • Small amount of ascitic fluid

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